Edit: SMS Backup and Restore was updated to support 4.4, an even restoring from backups that were created before updating works fine.
Original post said:
Does anyone know a method or an app that is able to restore SMS in Android 4.4 KitKat? I'm running this N5 port, which works great, but I cannot find a single app that is updated to support restore on Android 4.4. With SMS Backup & Restore I am able to restore into the 4.3 stock messaging app that I pushed via adb, but all messages are empty afterwards. And they are not shown at all in Hangouts.
I know that Google said SMS backup apps need to be updated in order to support KitKat (read 3rd section on this blogpost), but I can't believe there is no single updated app or other method yet.
Any advices, guys?
Edit: Here's the relevant section of the Android Developer Blog post:
Advice for SMS backup & restore apps
Because the ability to write to the SMS Provider is restricted to the app the user selects as the default SMS app, any existing app designed purely to backup and restore SMS messages will currently be unable to restore SMS messages on Android 4.4. An app that backs up and restores SMS messages must also be set as the default SMS app so that it can write messages in the SMS Provider. However, if the app does not also send and receive SMS messages, then it should not remain set as the default SMS app. So, you can provide a functional user experience with the following design when the user opens your app to initiate a one-time restore operation:
1. Query the current default SMS app's package name and save it.
Code:
String defaultSmsApp = Telephony.Sms.getDefaultSmsPackage(context);
2. Request the user change the default SMS app to your app in order to restore SMS messages (you must be the default SMS app in order to write to the SMS Provider).
Code:
Intent intent = new Intent(context, Sms.Intents.ACTION_CHANGE_DEFAULT);
intent.putExtra(Sms.Intents.EXTRA_PACKAGE_NAME, context.getPackageName());
startActivity(intent);
3. When you finish restoring all SMS messages, request the user to change the default SMS app back to the previously selected app (saved during step 1).
Code:
Intent intent = new Intent(context, Sms.Intents.ACTION_CHANGE_DEFAULT);
intent.putExtra(Sms.Intents.EXTRA_PACKAGE_NAME, defaultSmsApp);
startActivity(intent);
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After a reboot, my SMS were disapeared.
Mine too. So back to square one :/
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
sms backup just got an update today .. it works :good:
Yep, works perfectly now, even with backups that were done before updating the app. So... Solved again.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
I'm trying to restore on my N5 but no new messages show up in my hangouts even with the newest SMS backup and restore version.
It has set my hangouts back as default SMS app but still nothing there.
electric0ant said:
I'm trying to restore on my N5 but no new messages show up in my hangouts even with the newest SMS backup and restore version.
It has set my hangouts back as default SMS app but still nothing there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here...
janoliver said:
Same here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, same here
I had the same issue on my Nexus 5 with stock Kitkat 4.4 , so this may help.
- SMS Back and Restore made copy of texts on my Nexus 4
- copied backup to my Nexus 5
- restored messages, setting SMS Backa and Restore and def. SMS app when prompted, and then set Hangouts as def. app after
No text messages in Hangouts. Rebooted phone, still not text messages in Hangouts. I performed a test backup with SMS Backup and Restore, and it showed a bunch of messages being backed up, so it seems the messages WERE restored but just not showing.
I then went in Settings > Apps > All
Selected Hangouts, and cleared Cache and then Cleared all Data
I loaded Hangouts and all of a sudden, all my text messages were there.
Hope this helps, if so, don't be shy to hit that Thanks button below
uberNoobZA said:
I then went in Settings > Apps > All
Selected Hangouts, and cleared Cache and then Cleared all Data
I loaded Hangouts and all of a sudden, all my text messages were there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! This did the trick
help
uberNoobZA said:
I had the same issue on my Nexus 5 with stock Kitkat 4.4 , so this may help.
- SMS Back and Restore made copy of texts on my Nexus 4
- copied backup to my Nexus 5
- restored messages, setting SMS Backa and Restore and def. SMS app when prompted, and then set Hangouts as def. app after
No text messages in Hangouts. Rebooted phone, still not text messages in Hangouts. I performed a test backup with SMS Backup and Restore, and it showed a bunch of messages being backed up, so it seems the messages WERE restored but just not showing.
I then went in Settings > Apps > All
Selected Hangouts, and cleared Cache and then Cleared all Data
I loaded Hangouts and all of a sudden, all my text messages were there.
Hope this helps, if so, don't be shy to hit that Thanks button below
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, how did you set SMS B&R how def. sms app? When i prompt the app, it does not require to be def. sms app, so i cannot restore my sms. Please help...
eziotroito said:
Sorry, how did you set SMS B&R how def. sms app? When i prompt the app, it does not require to be def. sms app, so i cannot restore my sms. Please help...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install the latest SMS Backup and Restore, and it will prompt you when you perform a restore. If not, then I do not know, as I was prompted to set is as default SMS app when I did a restore.
help
uberNoobZA said:
Install the latest SMS Backup and Restore, and it will prompt you when you perform a restore. If not, then I do not know, as I was prompted to set is as default SMS app when I did a restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, i was running an other WRONG app, so i download the right and now it ask me to be def. sms app, but now i have another issue:
my .xml file come from TITANIUM BACKUP, so now SMS B&R, see my xml file, but if I tap to VIEW SMS, it tell me there is no conversation, ALSO IF IT SEE MY XML FILE! How is it possible? Maybe titanium backup xml file are wrong for this app? Xml file are not all the same for any app?!? Please help, 'cause titanium backup is not up to date, so does not ask to be def. app and not restore anything!
eziotroito said:
Yep, i was running an other WRONG app, so i download the right and now it ask me to be def. sms app, but now i have another issue:
my .xml file come from TITANIUM BACKUP, so now SMS B&R, see my xml file, but if I tap to VIEW SMS, it tell me there is no conversation, ALSO IF IT SEE MY XML FILE! How is it possible? Maybe titanium backup xml file are wrong for this app? Xml file are not all the same for any app?!? Please help, 'cause titanium backup is not up to date, so does not ask to be def. app and not restore anything!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to restore data from a backup made with titanium backup, you need to use titanium backup.
uberNoobZA said:
If you want to restore data from a backup made with titanium backup, you need to use titanium backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem, titanium bckp does not ask to be def sms app, i hope in an update , thank u very much
Has anyone got things working usings SMS Backup+? I used to use B&R but switched to SMS Backup+ b/c I liked the gmail search-ability. SMS Backup+ goes through the restore process and states it restored 500 messages (current restore setting) but nothing shows up. I'm guessing this has to do with the KitKat and the whole "primary SMS app" thing?
mcubed45 said:
Has anyone got things working usings SMS Backup+? I used to use B&R but switched to SMS Backup+ b/c I liked the gmail search-ability. SMS Backup+ goes through the restore process and states it restored 500 messages (current restore setting) but nothing shows up. I'm guessing this has to do with the KitKat and the whole "primary SMS app" thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same Issue with SMS Backup+
Will probably have to wait for the developer to update.
Same issue here, with SMS Backup+
Add me to the SMS Backup+ not restoring texts.
worked perfectly for me!
thanks uberNoobZA!!!!
uberNoobZA said:
I had the same issue on my Nexus 5 with stock Kitkat 4.4 , so this may help.
- SMS Back and Restore made copy of texts on my Nexus 4
- copied backup to my Nexus 5
- restored messages, setting SMS Backa and Restore and def. SMS app when prompted, and then set Hangouts as def. app after
No text messages in Hangouts. Rebooted phone, still not text messages in Hangouts. I performed a test backup with SMS Backup and Restore, and it showed a bunch of messages being backed up, so it seems the messages WERE restored but just not showing.
I then went in Settings > Apps > All
Selected Hangouts, and cleared Cache and then Cleared all Data
I loaded Hangouts and all of a sudden, all my text messages were there.
Hope this helps, if so, don't be shy to hit that Thanks button below
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I try to restore my sms messages with titanium backup all the conversation threads re appear but none of the messages are there. I backed up and tried to restore my sms on touchwiz based 4.4.2 roms. I've read around a bit and it seems like titanium backup isnt the best for restoring sms messages, I should have probably used a specific sms backup app. However, some people are saying restoring sms works with titanium backup on aosp roms so could I flash an aosp rom, resotre my sms with titanium backup, backup with a proper sms backup app, and then restore that new backup to my current rom ?
Is there any other way I can get my sms from the titanium backup ? Like can I convert it to a different backup type or something or open it and restore it with something else ?
Any help and advice will be appreciated, thanks.
Never mind I got it. I flashed an aosp rom, restored the sms trhough titanium backup, took a backup of that with sms backup and restore from the playstore, and restored the backup from that app on to my current touchwiz rom.
I haven't clean wiped my phone since taking delivery (March 2016) I'm rooted and have flashed every update up to N4F26J but I'v noticed a drop in battery even running the same kernel. I'd like to factory reset things then just restore apps and SMS. What is the best method to accomplish this? Previously I'd use SS Backup&Restore along with a Titanium Backup but that was a different device and different Andriod version, is there anything more efficient?
Thank you!
Thats what i do. Sms backup & restore by carbonite and titanium backup. Its pretty easy if you have the pro version of TB.
I use Titanium for user Apps and SMS...
g cloud is good if you dont know tit backup. tit backs up everything perfectly if you know how. for sms change your sms app in settings to titanium backup then go in titanium and back up (messages sms&mms) it'll be in yellow text. then you have to go back to your default sms app screen and change it back to hangouts, messenger or whatever you use. then in titanium backup find in settings create update.zip . as long as you dont wipe internal storage youll have your backups.
when restoring a backup change sms app default to [titanium backup] as your default messaging app. then go to in to tit backup and restore the generic looking yellow entry that says [Messages
(sms&mms)] what till its finished restoring. then just change the default messaging app back to hangouts or whatever you use.
you dont back up an sms app like messenger or hangouts because the sms are only read by those apps. their stored in (messages sms&mms) its a location in your phone.
dontbeweakvato said:
g cloud is good if you dont know tit backup. tit backs up everything perfectly if you know how. for sms change your sms app in settings to titanium backup then go in titanium and back up (messages sms&mms) it'll be in yellow text. then you have to go back to your default sms app screen and change it back to hangouts, messenger or whatever you use. then in titanium backup find in settings create update.zip . as long as you dont wipe internal storage youll have your backups.
when restoring a backup change sms app default to [titanium backup] as your default messaging app. then go to in to tit backup and restore the generic looking yellow entry that says [Messages
(sms&mms)] what till its finished restoring. then just change the default messaging app back to hangouts or whatever you use.
you dont back up an sms app like messenger or hangouts because the sms are only read by those apps. their stored in (messages sms&mms) its a location in your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats nuts. Ive seen where TB showed up as an sms app but never knew why. I'll definitely switch.